Effect of varying Irrigation Frequencies on Growth, Yield and Quality ...

<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> irrigation frequencies on pea
341
This study was conducted to investigate the effect <strong>of</strong> irrigation frequencies
on growth, yield and quality <strong>of</strong> pea seed. In addition, efforts were also made
to determine the effect <strong>of</strong> irrigation on physiological aspects <strong>of</strong> produced
seed like germination capacity and vigour.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted at the Institute <strong>of</strong> Horticultural Sciences,
University <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2005-06 and
2006-07. Layout system for field experiments was RCBD with factorial
arrangements and CRD was used for seed vigour tests in laboratory. Pea
crop (cvs. Climax and Meteor) was sown on 2 nd November, 2005 at a
distance <strong>of</strong> 20 cm on beds made 150 cm apart. Each sub-plot was 1.5 m
wide and 5.71 m long (8.565 m 2 ). Standard dose <strong>of</strong> N @ 80 kg per hectare
alongwith 120 kg P and 100 kg K was applied. Phosphorus, potash and half
dose <strong>of</strong> nitrogen were applied at the time <strong>of</strong> seed bed preparation and
remaining N was applied when flowering started. Immediately after sowing,
water was applied. <strong>Irrigation</strong>s (7.5 cm each) were applied on different crop
growth stages, with ten days intervals as per schedule comprising four
treatments viz. 8 irrigations upto flowering (I 1 ), 10 irrigations upto pod filling
(I 2 ), 12 irrigations upto seed filling (I 3 ) and 13 irrigations upto seed maturity
stage (I 4 ). Crop was looked after properly and harvested on 22 nd May, 2006.
Data on main stem length (cm), number <strong>of</strong> leaves per plant, leaf area (cm 2 ),
number <strong>of</strong> pods per plant, number <strong>of</strong> seeds per pod, seed fresh weight per
plant (g), seed dry weight per plant (g), 1000-seed weight (g) and seed yield
per hectare (tons) were recorded. The seed vigour tests like electrical
conductivity, germination and emergence percentages were also performed.
These tests were also performed after harvest and quality <strong>of</strong> seed was
observed. Weather data were recorded for the year 2005-06 and 2006-07
seasons (Table 1). The year 2006-07 remained cooler because <strong>of</strong> higher
rainfall which resulted in higher humidity and thus overall cooler environment
prevailed during second year <strong>of</strong> the experiment.
Table 1. Mean monthly temperature (°C), relative humidity and total rainfall received
during crop growth.
Temperature (°C) Relative humidity (%) Rainfall (mm)
Months 2005-06 2006-07 2005-06 2006-07 2005-06 2006-07
Nov 20.8 20.9 50.5 47.0 0.0 12.8
Dec 14.6 15.5 52.0 57.4 0.0 46.2
J. Agric. Res., 2011, 49(3)